Chapter 33 Part 2

“Your brother regrets it?”

Old Zheng nodded. “After he got the coal mines, he started squandering wildly without understanding investment—everything he touched lost money. Meanwhile, I invested the family wealth in emerging industries like real estate, automobiles, education, and electronics networks, making a fortune later on. As I aged, my hobby of collecting antiques also paid off with their appreciation.”

“Twenty-odd years passed like that. His life got worse and worse, and he grew envious again. He accused me of tricking him, saying I’d deliberately given him the money-losing coal business to gain a good reputation while stealing his fortune. He demanded a redistribution.”

Chu Yi nearly spat. This brother was truly shameless. After twenty or thirty years, he still wanted a do-over? Why not just rob him outright!

“At first, I intended to subsidize my blood brother and didn’t mind much, so I gave him some profitable small factories and mature trade chains. But he managed to ruin them all, then blamed me for using him as a scapegoat.”

Yu Qingxian: “Old Zheng shouldn’t have opened that door in the first place. A person like that will only grow greedier.”

Old Zheng sighed and nodded. “You’re right. Not only was he ungrateful, he thought I was acting out of guilt—that those things were rightfully his. His visits grew more brazen.”

People of their generation valued family ties deeply. His parents had long passed, leaving only this one brother, so even knowing his brother’s mindset was twisted, Old Zheng instinctively yielded.

But after too many times, he couldn’t take it anymore—especially with his son and grandsons strongly opposing. Family relations soured badly. Eventually, he handed power to his son Zheng Yongming and became a deaf-mute rich old man.

Zheng Yongming had long been fed up with his unreasonable uncle. Once in power, he cut off all support to the second branch. With no more freebies, Old Zheng’s brother actually died of anger.

What Old Zheng didn’t tell Chu Yi was that he’d visited his brother before he died. Even then, his brother harbored nothing but resentment toward him, blaming him and their parents for the unfairness.

Old Zheng’s last shred of hope vanished. The companionship of their youth and mutual support mattered only to him; the little brother in his memories had left with their parents long ago!

Old Zheng’s heart turned cold, and he ignored his two nephews for a long time. Only later, when they came apologizing, did relations resume—though far from what they once were.

For Old Zheng’s sake, Zheng Yongming tossed them small jobs like parts processing or engineering procurement. Forget about handing over factories or foreign trade chains like before.

“Master asked about this—do you suspect something’s wrong with those two nephews of mine?” Old Zheng hesitated but asked anyway.

“It’s not suspicion; it’s certain.” Chu Yi glanced at Old Zheng. “I haven’t seen them since leaving the lounge. Does Old Zheng know where they went?”

Old Zheng was taken aback; he truly hadn’t noticed. But Zheng Danrui beside him said, “They left early. Uncle Yongzhou made a call as soon as he stepped out, but not from his usual number. I couldn’t trace who he called.”

She glanced at her grandfather. She hadn’t planned to mention tracking the two uncles until she was sure, but since Master had proven her innocence, it was fine to say now.

Chu Yi: “They’re probably calling in reinforcements. Don’t worry, Old Zheng—they’ll be back before the Curse Removal.”

Yu Qingxian suddenly understood. “You did it on purpose?”

Chu Yi shrugged. “If I didn’t stall, how could I catch them all at once?”

The Curse Master was different from whoever had set the Peach Blossom Evil Formation on Wei Guoping’s couple. He/she would have to act personally and, to be safe, wouldn’t stray too far.

Old Zheng was startled. “This… Master, are you confident?”

From his position, he didn’t care what happened to the Curse Master, but on second thought, leaving the source alive risked retaliation out of resentment. Better to end it all.

Chu Yi glanced at President Yu and smiled brightly. “I wasn’t too confident at first, but with the set of Magic Artifacts President Yu just gave me, I’ve got seventy or eighty percent now.”

Yu Qingxian: “…”

Chu Yi was teasing him right in front of Old Zheng? And why did that look feel like flirting? With other informed people present, President Yu’s ears grew hot…

“That’s good.” Old Zheng nodded, somewhat distracted, so he didn’t notice the subtle exchange between them.

Old Zheng looked at Zheng Danrui, hesitating to speak. “Xiao Rui, about before… you don’t blame Grandpa, do you?”

This granddaughter was impeccable—her business acumen and shrewdness far surpassed her two brothers. Only one flaw… she was the child of Zheng Yongming’s comrade, not true Zheng blood.

“No.” Zheng Danrui shook her head solemnly. “Grandpa, just know this: the Zheng Family raised me. I’ll never do anything to harm you or Dad.”

Zheng Danrui didn’t say anything flowery; she was pragmatic and couldn’t do sentimental.

Old Zheng fell silent. He’d always harbored some prejudice against this child. Though he hadn’t voiced it when Zheng Yongming’s family had their issues, he’d ignored the rumors. Perhaps once the curse was resolved, he should reconsider his stance…

They discussed a few more things in the car before it pulled into the Zheng Family Mansion.

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